Hydrolyzed Protein Based Materials for Biodegradable Spray Mulching Coatings

Abstract

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) films are widespread used in agriculture for soil mulching. The use of LDPE mulching films causes the serious drawback of huge quantities of waste to be disposed of. Over the last years the growing environmental awareness has been prompting the research to develop a new generation of mulching products starting with raw materials from renewable origin. These materials have to retain their physical and mechanical properties while in use and have to be compostable or biodegradable at the end of their life, degrading via micro-organisms into carbon dioxide or methane, water and biomass. The research is focused on the development of novel biodegradable polymeric materials based on hydrolyzed proteins, derived from waste products of the leather industry. Biodegradable soil mulching coatings were realized with these biodegradable polymeric materials by means of spray techniques; the coatings were tested in a Ligustrum ovalifolium cultivation carried out inside a greenhouse. This paper describes the functionalities of the new bio-based mulching coatings, which were developed and tested in real scale greenhouse cultivation tests. During the trial, the biodegradable soil mulching materials showed suitable properties for an efficient and profitable use in agriculture. The innovative biodegradable spray coatings lasted up to 18 months. The biodegradable materials could be the environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic petro-chemical polymers and could contribute to a sustainable agriculture.

Biodegradable plant nursery containers from leather industry wastes

“…The higher height of the plants grown in the biodegradable pots in comparison with the control plants can be attributed to the high content of nitrogen, which is slowly released to the growing media during the degradation process of the pots .…”

“…In this paper, protein hydrolysate (Pr.Hyd) was used to develop new bio‐based materials that could find a number of interesting applications in different industrial sectors, in particular in agriculture, as rigid containers and pots for plant cultivation and systems for controlled release of fertilizers. Among bio‐based polymers, proteins have shown to be versatile materials that combine many valuable characteristics for technical applications, such as good reactivity and processability, both in solution and in the melt . An important source of proteins is for example represented by the leather industry.…”

The effect of modified keratin on the thermal properties of a cellulosic–elastomeric material

“…Researches have been undertaken to produce new materials from natural biodegradable raw materials: soy protein films with mandelic acid exhibiting good mechanical properties [4], linn/pectin membranes [5], and polycondensates of malic acid to create biodegradable polyesters with programmable molecular weight [6]. Another way is by blending synthetic polymers with natural additives, for example PVC blends with castor oil & Yves-Hervé Tshela Ntumba yvesherve@yahoo.fr acting as a flame retardant [7], mulching mats using biodegradable raw materials such as hydrolyzed proteins [8], starch [9], polylactic acid PLA [10] and other naturally occurring biopolymers [11]. All those materials show tremendous potential for use in agriculture.…”

Green composites and blends from leather industry waste

“…Thus, PH is easily available at low cost and is readily biodegradable . In this article, PH was used to develop new biobased materials that could find a number of interesting applications in different industrial sectors, for example as materials for packaging or products for agriculture ranging from flexible mulching films to rigid containers for plants and systems for controlled release of fertilizers .…”